stretch and sweep?

Robyn - posted on 03/18/2011
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my ob said to me yesterday that if I haven't already gone into labor by 39 weeks that she could do a stretch and sweep to try to get labor started ( only if i wanted of course). I was just wondering if anyone else has had this done and was it extremely painful? did it work?

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Theresa - posted on 03/21/2011

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I thought it was more uncomfortable than painfiul. My water did break that night. However I wouldn't do it again. That doc just did it and didn't ask. My appt was the day before my due date so he assumed I'd want it done. All 3 of my other kids were about a week late. I think she would have waited a little loger had he not done it. I personally feel that there is a reason that babies don't come on their "due date". They're just not ready. If you're over by a week or so that's different, but to do it early seems wrong to me. I realy think my doc did it because his wife and kids were gone that week so me going in to labor that week was convenient for him. Had labor not started until the week after my due date like with my other kids then he would have had to miss family time. I wasn't very happy with him doing it without my permission.

i had 2 done with my son, both when i was past 40weeks, they were painful but i would have it done again next time round...its nothing compared to labour, haha! although i had 2 they didnt work, but i would still try it again, i think once you get to the stretch and sweep stage, youll try anything to get baby out!!

I had it done with my second and third one. Both times I went into labor within 12 hours. So I would say it worked. It was a little painful. Mostly because by time the doctor offers to do that everything feels bad. I would do it again. I think it worked great.

I had it done every time I saw my midwife from 41 weeks to 42 weeks and 2 days when I was eventually induced. So, I had it done about 5 times. Didn't work for me (obviously), it was uncomfortable but not too bad. I would try it again though. I tried pretty much everything to get my baby out of me (I think she must have been holding onto my ribs or something).

I was overdue with my first child and had it done twice. It was uncomfortable and felt like a strong period cramp. No big deal at all. Unfortunately for me, my son was too stubborn and I had to be induced, but the S & S did help my cervix dialate more easily and labour was quick.

My OB did this for me with both my pregnancys to induce and both times it worked my kids were born 14 and 8 hours after he did it and both times my water broke on its own... It was not comfortable while he did it but it wasnt painful... I was warned and knew what was coming so that helped... I would recommend it because it was affective and helped me avoid any drugs. GOOD LUCK

just a reminder cuz i have fast labors too - if you do go into labor quickly and think you might have baby in the car - DO NOT speed. It is much safer to have the baby in the car and then drive, slowly and carefully to the hospital with him/her on your chest than it is to get in an accident. Just figured I'd throw that out there, so many people freak out like the baby will explode if they don't get to the hospital before it's born....

Oh wow! Your lucky! The pitocin was causing false contractions, I had NO progress what so ever. Sounds like you should the stretch and sweep done in the hospital or be closely monitored afterwards! haha.

I had this done and my water broke a day later. It wasn't painful but a little uncomfortable and scary because I didn't know what to expect. It was quite fast though. I think the name is more scary than anything else.

no this is my second baby, my first i was induced at 35 weeks for preeclampsia, but that labor went really fast, which is why she said she`d do it at 39 weeks if i havent gone into labor yet, we dont want our baby being born in the back seat of the car lol my cervix is pretty sensitive so im sure it`ll probably work, when i was induced with my first all it took was one dose of cervadil and then poof less than 4 hours later i had a baby:D

My doctor sort of did that. I was enduced and after having pitocin upped to the max dose w/in 5hrs he broke my water when I was only about 1cm dilated and about 75% effaced. It sort of hurt, but it was more so lots of pressure. I think it depends on how sensitive your cervix is. Is this your first child? Thankfully I was in the delivery room when he did this and not in the dc office, my son was born about 10-20mins after that.Good luck!!

I had it done with my second baby. I had it done twice. Both times it didn't hurt, but it also didn't work. At that point though, I was ready to endure anything to get that baby out! I was so tired of being pregnant! haha. So I think it's worth a shot. I was even asking the doctor to sweep harder! haha I wanted to stretch that thing out!